In the awesome city of Valparaiso, puerto de Valparaiso is a port area that is the perfect spot for tourists who have never been to the city before. That being said, it wasn't over crowded with visitors at all, and actually had more of a local feel to it. The whole area has a blue collar feel and it's very quiet for being a port area. There are lots of places to sit and even a few local shops spread through out. On a sunny day, this is a great place to bring some lunch, grab a bench and just observe all the boats coming and going. It's located in downtown Valparaiso and is walking distance to and from other shops and restaurants in the area. Valparaiso itself is a pretty historic city in Chile and this area seems to have a bit of that vibe as well. Definitely a must visit if coming to this cool city. read more

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I wasn't at all impressed with "Terminal Pasajeros" (passenger port) in Puerto de Valparaíso, Chile. The port is basically heavy-duty commercial shipping with few amenities for cruise ship passengers. Getting from my Holland America ship to the terminal itself involved a bus ride plus a lengthy walk. Then, once inside the terminal, not much. There is a café with mostly snack service, a Wi-Fi which, when I was there, didn't seem to be working. When you go through the terminal you exit into mass congestion of tour, local, other buses and vehicle traffic with seemingly little organization or order to it. read more

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Valparaíso is a major port city in northern Chile, and has traditionally been the commercial port for the capital city of Santiago. Valparaíso is located 70 miles (112 km) northwest of Santiago. Valparaíso is the capital of Chile's third most populated administrative region and has been the headquarters for the Chilean National Congress since 1990. Greater Valparaíso is the third largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso played a very important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century, when the city served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the Straits of Magellan. At that golden age, Valparaíso was known as "Little San Francisco" or "The Jewel of the Pacific". In 2003, the historic quarter of Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a new national law named the city "Chile's Cultural Capital." Although the nearby San Antonio port has recently become the country's most commercially viable seaport, the port of Valparaíso continues to be a major distribution center for commercial container traffic, copper, and fruit exports. Examples of Valparaíso's former glory include Latin America's oldest stock exchange, the continent's first volunteer fire department, Chile's first public library, and the oldest Spanish language newspaper in continuous publication in the world, El Mercurio de Valparaíso. The opening of the Panama Canal and reduction in ship traffic dealt a staggering blow to Valparaíso. Over the past 15 years, the city has staged an impressive renaissance attracting many artists and cultural entrepreneurs who are established in the city's hillside historic districts. The labyrinth of cobbled alleys and colorful historical building streets are now a unique tourist attraction and the city is a gateway to Santiago across the central valley. Valparaíso has transformed itself into a major educational center with four large universities and several large vocational colleges. The city is a center of Chilean culture, with several major festivals every year and street artists and musicians. Valparaíso is the start or end point of recreational cruises to or from Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is how we ended up there. read more

Puerto de Valparaíso - Transportation Near Me - Valparaíso, VS

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